Domaine Du Fresche

The family Boré have inhabited Domaine du Fresche for the past six generations. Alain’s grandparents were mixed farmers, growing cereals and raising cattle, both for dairy and for meat, as well as making a little wine. But it was Alain’s father and two uncles who began to focus their efforts in viticulture, and Alain himself has been working at the domaine since 1989. Today he farms a total of 30 hectares of vines, all situated in the commune of La Pommeraye on the south bank of the Loire, and enjoying commanding views over the valley and the river itself. Since 2004, all of Alain’s wines have been certified as organic.

The range at Domaine du Fresche is diverse, with Alain making around a dozen wines each vintage. This is a reflection of both the grape varieties planted and the appellations that encompass the vineyards that surround La Pommeraye. The white wines are based on Chenin Blanc, although there is a little Pinot Gris here too (known locally as Malvoisie). As is normal with Chenin in the Loire, the grape is fashioned into a number of different styles which include a Cremant de la Loire (sparkling), a dry Anjou Blanc and, when conditions allow, three individual sweet wines. Given that La Pommeraye sits just outside of Coteaux du Layon region, they take the name of the relatively obscure Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire appellation instead. There are only a handful of growers here and production is tiny (in 2008, only 28 hectares were in production), which also ensures that pricing is relatively modest in comparison to its better known neighbor. Alain also produces a pair of Rosés, one dry and one demi-sec, using Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and the locally known Grolleau. The three different reds are produced from either Gamay or Cabernet Franc.